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MOVING TOWARD BETTER HEALTH Partnerships broaden TMC’s focus on wellness
In a year dominated by national health reform headlines, Tucson’s community hospital has taken action to increase opportunities for individuals to reform their personal health through diet, exercise and positive lifestyle choices. From an innovative employee wellness program to a new collaboration with the Canyon Ranch Institute, Tucson Medical Center is committed to helping people live healthier, longer, said Mary Atkinson, TMC’s wellness director. “Just offering opportunities, support and incentives has given many of our staff the motivation they needed to start their wellness journey,” she said. “These seemingly small steps are lowering our health care expenditures and helping our employees live healthier lives.”
TMC hosted Tucson’s first “Color Vibe” event in December 2012, raising $6,000 for Girls on the Run. Tucsonans of all ages showed up for this colorful event, many running their first 5k that day.
EMPLOYEE WELLNESS Last spring, the leadership at TMC noted that chronic diseases make up a disproportionate amount of money that the hospital spends on employee health care. So President and CEO Judy Rich issued a challenge: If employees could cut their health care costs by a halfmillion dollars, TMC would get an employee gym. To support the employees in this endeavor, the TMC Live Well initiative was developed by a multidisciplinary, collaborative team. Live Well, a robust program headed by a committee of staff members across the hospital, supports employees in living a healthier lifestyle through various fitness activities, programs and incentives. The initiative has been successful in a short amount of time. Employees have already cut health care costs by the half-million-dollar target, and more than 200 employees are participating in the pilot fitness challenge. The efforts were recognized with the Process and Leadership in Worksite Healthcare Promotion by the Wellness Council of Arizona and the National Partnership for Wellness. Note: The TMC Employee and Physician Gym is scheduled to be opened in the third quarter of 2013.